The Great Transformation

The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time

This classic work of economic history and social theory examines the collapse of nineteenth-century civilization and the rise of the market economy. Karl Polanyi argues that the self-regulating market is a dangerous anomaly that requires severe social dislocation and that human society must consciously reassert control over economic systems to ensure survival. The study traces the historical origins of modern market societies and highlights the profound social dangers of treating land, labor, and money as mere commodities.

by Karl Polanyi

Beacon Press · First published 1944 · 315 pages